In This Series

Product Description

Two beautiful brides. One unsuspecting groom. Three weeks to figure it all out.

Greta Olsen arrives in Central City, Colorado, as a mail-order bride, expecting to marry Jess Gifford, the man sheÂs come to know through his tender letters. But when she meets Cora Johnson, she discovers sheÂs not the only bride waiting at the train station for Jess.

Already shocked to find they must compete for JessÂs affection, the young women can hardly believe it when not Jess but his brother Zach picks them up from the stationÂand reveals that Jess knows nothing about any mail-order bride, let alone two. Will either bride make the match she hopes for? Filled with surprises, misunderstandings, and tender romance, Twice Promised is the story of how two unlikely women become twice blessed.

Publisher's Description

Seeing how successful her older sister's "mail order marriage" has been and longing to strike out on her own, Greta Olsen answers an ad for a mail order bride in Central City, Colorado. But when she meets Jess Gifford, owner of a thriving mercantile, she begins to harbor doubts. He didn't place the ad to begin with and his business in a busy mining town leaves him little time or energy for love. To compound her troubles, she was not the only bride to answer the ad! Will either bride strike the match she hopes for?

Filled with amusing and awkward situations that will keep the reader interested and guessing, Twice Promised is another sweet romance from Maggie Brendan.

Author Bio

Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of several books, including the Heart of the West series and The Blue Willow Brides series. Winner of the 2013 Laurel Wreath Award, she was a 2013 finalist for the Published Maggie Award of Excellence, a 2013 finalist for the Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award, a 2012 finalist for Inspirational Reader's Choice award, and a recipient of the 2004 ACW Persistence Award in Atlanta. She is a member of the Author's Guild; Romance Writers of America; Faith, Hope, and Love; and Georgia Romance Writers. When she's not writing, she enjoys reading, researching for her novels, and spending time with her family. You can follow her at her website www.MaggieBrendan.com, her blog www.SouthernBelleWriter.blogspot.com, and on Facebook and Twitter @MaggieBrendan.

I have read a lot of mail order bride stories! This one has a few different twists to it and that is what makes it one of the better ones. I gave this book 5/5 stars. I thought the plot was well written and thought out. You could actually see real people reacting the same way these characters do as they meet each other and deal with deceptions. I though the chapters flowed from one to the other with ease and helped make this book an easy and fast read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction, especially those who enjoy western settings.

I would like to thank the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

In Twice Promised, author Maggie Brendan pens a heartwarming tale of adventure and romance set against the backdrop of the beautiful snow capped, purple peaks of the Rocky Mountains in the late 1800's. Our lovely heroine from Holland, Greta Olsen arrives in Colorado to meet her intended, Jess Gifford, in response to a mail order bride advertisement, unaware that his brother Zach is the one she has been corresponding with and not Jess.

Jess and Zach run a mercantile store and Zach, wanting to build his own ranch and get out of the business takes it upon himself to pick not one! -- but two lovely ladies for his brother to choose from. As both brides arrive at the same time to meet Jess, anger, confusion, and rivalry set in, until the brothers' granny picks the perfect solution to the problem -- the woman who drinks from the beautiful Dutch Blue Willow teacup will be courted by Zach, the other who picks the rose teacup will be courted by Jess.

But can true love and someone's destiny be determined by a teacup? Or are more troubles on the horizon for the two couples? And when Jess's ex-girlfriend, Agnes, arrives, will that throw another kink in the plans? And it is as each one ultimately relies on the Lord, and begins trusting in His plan that everything works together for the good.

Maggie Brendan is a wonderful author and has written a totally different take in the typical mail order brides stories with one too many brides to choose from. This was a lighthearted, heartwarming, relaxing read, with several twists and turns. Each character was a delight and I love how they evolved throughout the story, especially Cora, the other bride, who seemingly had nothing going for her but her beauty. Beautifully written, this is a fun read and definitely one for your keeper's shelf!

I received a copy of this book from Revell Publishing in exchange for my honest opinion.

Greta and Cora are shocked to find that they are both mail-order brides--to the same man! Turns out that Zach has been writing to both of the ladies for his brother Jess, so that Jess can finally be married. Will Greta and Cora both find love in the beautiful Colorado mountains?

Two brothers. Two brides. One crazy ride. Twice Promised is a fun romantic read, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.

I really liked the characters, especially Granny, who was a really smart lady who often had to untangle a few things out :)

I really liked Cora and Greta, and how they handled the situation, which was less than pleasing! I liked how this book told two love stories instead of one. Even though this is the second in a series, it really could be a stand alone, because while there were small mentions of Greta's sisters, this book was basically a whole new adventure. I guess the one thing that I noticed is that I didn't really get to know the guys, Zach and Jess, as well as Greta and Cora, so I didn't always understand why the guys did what they did.

Overall, this was a really sweet, fun, prairie romance. I loved Cora, Greta, and Granny, and the general plot of the book. I love my mail-order bride stories! A delightful story full of twists and charming turns.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thanks!

Twice Promised by Maggie Brendan is the second book in her Blue Willow Brides series. This story is delightful! It's a mail-order bride story. But don't be fooled. It's not your normal mail-order bride tale. In this book, there are two mail-order brides but only one groom who has no idea, thanks to his brother, that these ladies are coming to turn his world upside down. There's a clever grandma who sees right through the actions of her two grandsons and right into their hearts. There's a sprinkling of characters throughout the book and you're not sure who will end up with whoâ€”or whether anyone will marry at all. Maggie Brendan has a wonderful way of creating believable characters and keeping you guessing. Every time I thought I had the romance figured out, she'd throw me for a loop again. Such a fun read!

Here's the description:

Two beautiful brides. One unsuspecting groom. Three weeks to figure it all out.

Greta Olsen arrives in Central City, Colorado, as a mail-order bride, expecting to marry Jess Gifford, the man she's come to know through his tender letters. But when she meets Cora Johnson, she discovers she's not the only bride waiting at the train station for Jess.

Already shocked to find they must compete for Jess's affection, the young women can hardly believe it when not Jess but his brother Zach picks them up from the stationâ€”and reveals that Jess knows nothing about any mail-order bride, let alone two. Will either bride make the match she hopes for?

Filled with surprises, misunderstandings, and tender romance, Twice Promised is the story of how two unlikely women become twice blessed.

The old west has always intrigued me with the pioneers traveling in wagons, leaving comfortable lives for the unknown, the mining towns and even mail-order brides. I don't think I could have ever been a mail-order bride but I do like to read about them.

The story line kept my attention only because I was interested in finding out who was going to end up with who. Other than that I've read far too many novels like this and quite frankly the only new thing was the chaotic unraveling of which mail order bride was going to marry Jess. I hate sounding like a broken record but the information was the same old same old.

I've said before that I am a bit of a prude so when the story featured the brides kissing another man other than their intended behind their intended's backs I couldn't help but wonder if that would really happen in the old west. I know it can happen, and even to Christians, but I think it's rare not the norm.

I also think Maggie made the men seem weak, but that's just my opinion.

What I loved About Twice Promised:

I loved the character Granny but her meddlesome ways created some huge problems!

I loved the bear and outhouse scene. ;)

I loved Greta and Cora's characters, strong, god-fearing women.

Overall, I liked Twice Promise but it's not likely to be a book I pick up and read again.

Faith and Family Reviews received the following product in exchange for writing a review. While we consider it a privilege to receive products to review, our reviews are our honest opinion and thoughts of the product.